Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a significant global health burden with variable prevalence influenced by metabolic, genetic, and infectious factors. Increasing evidence suggests that Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species, contribute to gallstone pathogenesis through enzymatic activity and biofilm formation. Objectives: To characterize Gram-positive bacteria within gallstones from Iraqi patients, evaluate their biofilm-forming capacity, and analyze the relationship between bacterial colonization, gallstone type, and cholesterol levels. Methods: A total of 100 gallstones were obtained from patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy between October 2024 and March 2025. Stones were aseptically processed for bacterial isolation and identification using selective culture media and the VITEK® 2 Compact System. Serum cholesterol levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric assay. Biofilm formation was quantified via the 96-well microtiter plate method, and statistical correlations between gallstone type, cholesterol level, and bacterial presence were analyzed. Results: Cholesterol stones (57%) were more prevalent than pigment (40%) and mixed stones (3%). Bacterial growth was observed in 43% of gallstones, with Enterococcus species (31 isolates) predominating over S. aureus (12 isolates). Species-level identification revealed E. faecalis (n= 16), E. faecium (n= 9), and E. gallinarum (n= 6), marking the first reported isolation of E. gallinarum from gallstones. Cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in sterile stones (median 235 mg/dL) compared to bacteria-positive stones (173-186 mg/dL) (P < 0.0001). Biofilm analysis showed all S. aureus isolates as strong producers, whereas E. faecalis exhibited predominantly moderate-to-strong formation, while E. faecium and E. gallinarum displayed weaker capacities. Conclusion: A significant interplay between microbial colonization and gallstone composition. Strong biofilm-producing Gram-positive bacteria, particularly S. aureus and E. faecalis, may facilitate stone maturation and persistence. The novel isolation of E. gallinarum expands the spectrum of biliary microbiota.
The high viscosity of heavy oil is a crucial factor that strongly affects its up-stream recovering, down-stream surface transporting and refining processes. Economical methods for recovering the heavy oil and reducing is very important and related to capital and/or operating cost. This research studies the treatment of Iraqi heavy crude oil, which characterize with high viscosity and low API which makes transportation of heavy crude oil a difficult mission, needs for treatment to reduce viscosity for facilitating transportation and processing. Iraqi heavy crude oil was used Sharqi Baghdad, which obtained from Baghdad east oil fields with API 22.2º.Many kinds of additives were used to reduce the viscosity, experiments were performed o
... Show MoreAll over the world and in different societies and cultures , people are always looking for different ways of favourable , gentle smooth and soft communication .The 'powerful linguistic devices ' that are embedded in the daily English language is called "euphemism". It plays an important and vital role in daily communication. It represents a significant part of English . It is used to express any aspect of everyday realities such as the business world , mass media , etc. The comprehension of such realities can not be verified unless a reasonable command of euphemism is achieved.
Euphemism is defined according to various perspectives and views. It is " that figure of speech which consists in the substitution of a word or expression of c
This study intends to look into the activities instructors use in the classroom to teach literature. Three models for teaching literature were added into the study in order to deepen the use of activities in the classroom. They are six activities in the teaching of literature were listed as indicators investigated during the study; language based, paraphrastic, information-based, personal response, moral-philosophical, and stylistic. An emphasizing the teaching of literature, the classroom activities used were mostly concentrated on the technical aspects of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Through observing the classroom, it was revealed that teachers employed more Language-Based activity, Moral-Philosophical activity, and Informa
... Show MoreEmpirical equation has been presented to predict the optimum hydrodynamic
pressure gradient with optimum mud flow rate (one equation) of five Iraqi oil wells
to obtain the optimum carrying capacity of the drilling fluid ( optimum transport
cuttings from the hole to the surface through the annulus).
This equation is a function of mud flow rate, mud density and penetration
rate without using any charts or graphs.
The correlation coefficient accuracy is more than 0.9999.
The study of economic growth indicators is of fundamental importance in estimating the effectiveness of economic development plans, as well as the great role it plays in determining appropriate economic policies in order to optimally use the factors that lead to the dynamics of growth in Iraq, especially during a certain period of time. The gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices), which is considered a part of the national accounts, which is considered as an integrated dynamic of statistics that produces in front of policy makers the possibility of determining whether the economy is witnessing a state of expansion or evaluating economic activity and its efficiency in order to reach the size of the overall economy. The research aims
... Show MoreDrug overdose and poisoning are common clinical problems and could occur with Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (DFH) (one of anti histaminic drug ). It therefore important to study the adsorption of the DFH on pharmaceutical adsorbents which could serve as possible antidotes for the emergency treatment of DFH overdose or poisoning when they occur. The rate and extent of adsorption of DFH on some pharmaceutical adsorbents, bauxite were investigated spectra photometrically also the effect temperature, pH, presence of sucrose as additive have been studied as well, adsorbent's weight and partical size.The equilibrium adsorption contact times were determined for clay surface. Adsorption isotherms have been analyzed by the freundlich model. The appa
... Show MoreMR Younus, Al-A'DAB, 2011
